Every fall, the island of Martha's Vineyard is seized by fish fever as one of the East Coast’s best known saltwater fishing tournaments gets underway.

Started in 1946 as a promotional event and run since 1987 by a non-profit organization composed largely of local fishermen, the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby attracts anglers from all over the world. The 71st annual derby concluded on Oct. 15. See highlights of derby history at the Vineyard Gazette's Time Machine.

Fishermen vie for awards and bragging rights for the biggest catch caught from the shore or from a boat. In addition to the striped bass and bluefish, the tournament covers bonito and false albacore. Anglers under 15 compete in the junior division.

Crowds gather twice a day at the weigh-in shack by the Edgartown Yacht Club as the daily and weekly leaderboards are updated. At the end of the tournament, the top fishermen in eight divisions have a chance at grand prizes, including a truck and a boat.

A true community event, the derby sponsors a program that provides fish to the Island’s elderly population and each year provides four-year college scholarships to Island youth.

5 Day Forecast

With six days left to catch the winning fish, a new name was
scrawled in chalk atop the leaderboard, capturing the hearts and minds
of all in the waning moments of the 60th annual Martha's Vineyard... Read more

Six stripers over 30 pounds each were weighed in in the first 36 hours of the Martha's Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, and if the early catch is any indication it is going to be an exciting... Read more

Pages

The Katama Bay oyster is the talk of Island raw bars. Lovers of
seafood now have a local oyster available through most of the year. This
Island oyster is making its way across the eastern seaboard... Read more

Fishermen, sightseers and friends filled the Menemsha docks
on Wednesday when the fishing boat Quitsa Strider II came in.
The word was out. They had hit the jackpot.
Capt. Jonathan Mayhew, 50,... Read more

Top scientists at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and
fish conservation advocates are reporting a significant increase in the
numbers of swordfish swimming in the North Atlantic.... Read more

Lagoon Pond has millions of baby bay scallops. On Tuesday afternoon,
David Grunden, shellfish constable for Oak Bluffs, was out moving some
of them around. There is a gold mine of baby bay scallops... Read more